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2013. Invited Paper. International Conference on Increasing Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability in
India: The Future We Want organised by National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), in collaboration with
M.S. Swaminathan Foundation, Chennai, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore. Jan. 8-9.
With lack of food security, poor families are compelled to migrate to cities in distress,
keeping their agricultural lands fallow. Such barren lands accelerate soil erosion, run off of
rain water, resulting in floods, siltation of water bodies and loss of biodiversity and thereby
contributing to global warming. In the absence of efficient soil and water conservation, there
will be a severe reduction in the ground water table, accelerating the process of denudation of
the eco-system and shortage of drinking water. Distress migration will also deprive the
women and children of their basic needs such as shelter, safe drinking water and health care,
which will affect their quality of life. The children will discontinue their education and end
up as child labour and illiterate unemployed youth of the future. Thus, improving the
agricultural productivity of small land holders can play a key role in ensuring food security
and improving the quality of life in the country.
Indian Green Revolution for Food Security
Realising the urgency of enhancing food production, the Government of India had launched
the Green Revolution programme in the sixties, through introduction of high yielding
varieties and coordination among organisations engaged in agricultural development.
Although Green Revolution was successful only in Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar
Pradesh and Rajasthan, this small region could ensure food security for the entire nation.
Their major focus was on development of infrastructure for backward and forward linkages
for cultivating high yielding varieties of paddy, wheat, maize crops and oil seed crops to
some extent. As a result of Green Revolution, the food grain production increased from 82
million tons in 1960 to 176.4 million tons in 1990 and to 241.56 million tons in 2010. The
positive impacts of Green Revolution continued till the 1990s. Subsequently, there was a
decline in the growth of agricultural production, from 10 - 12% during the peak of the Green
Revolution to 2.3% during the Tenth Plan Period (Govt. of India, 2011). Cultivation of high
yielding varieties demanded higher doses of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, more diesel and
electrical power to pump water for irrigation. The cost of these three inputs contributed to
15% of the total cost of inputs in 1970, which increased to 55% in 1994 and to over 80% in
2005. Increasing use of these inputs was no more economical and in the absence of newer
technologies, the growth in agricultural production reduced drastically to less than 2%, which
had an adverse effect on the purchasing power of the poor, due to reduction in employment
opportunities and drop in wage rates. Most of the other regions which have not benefitted
from Green Revolution, continue to suffer from low crop yields, resulting in unemployment,
insecure livelihood and poverty, even today.
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demands a large quantity of fodder, low productive land can be profitably used for fodder
production with very remote chances of failure. The programme should also include the
development of efficient value chains, which will include small farmers as the key
stakeholders.
Livestock in Rural Economy
Animal Husbandry is the main source of livelihood for small farmers who are deprived of
fertile land and assured source of irrigation. As per the census of 2007, out of 528 million
heads of livestock in India, there were 199 million cattle, 105 million buffaloes, 141 million
goats, 72 million sheep and 11 million pigs. Cattle represented over 37% of the livestock
population. While farmers having access to fodder resources, prefer cattle and buffaloes, the
landless prefer to maintain sheep, goat and poultry. India ranks first in cattle and buffalo
population, second in goat, third in sheep and seventh in poultry (Table1). Although the
population of livestock during the last 10 years has been stable in the range of 485 million,
the buffalo population has increased by 8.91%, while the cattle population has reduced by
6.89%. There has been a significant increase in the population of goats during the last five
decades, which is attributed to the decrease in the size of land holdings and persistent drought
caused by erratic monsoon, forcing many small farmers to shift from large animals to small
ruminants.
Table 1: Livestock Population in India
Sr. No.
Species
Livestock Census
Growth Rate (%)
1997
2003
2003 over 1997
1.
Cattle
198.9
185.2
-6.89
2.
Buffalo
89.9
97.9
8.91
3.
Sheep
57.5
61.5
6.96
4.
Goat
122.7
124.4
1.38
5.
Other Animals
16.34
16.05
-1.77
Total Livestock
485.4
485.0
-0.08
Source: Livestock Census, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of
Agriculture.
Cattle and buffaloes are the major species maintained by all sections of the community and
unlike other natural resources, they are well distributed among small and large land holders.
They are ideal for mixed farming because of their valuable contribution to human nutrition
(milk and butter fat), plant nutrition (farmyard manure) and energy (bullock power). The
present breedable bovine population under organised breeding programme is 113.61 million,
which includes 12.62 million crossbred, 51.13 million indigenous cattle and 50.28 million
buffaloes. India also leads in milk production, with 110 million tons/year. The value of
output contributed by livestock in 2003 - 04 was Rs. 164,509 crores, of which Rs. 110,085
crores (66.92%) was from milk. Livestock has also been providing gainful employment allround the year, to over 16 million people, of which 70% are women. Milk production
accounts for 5.86% of the GDP while the total contribution from Animal Husbandry is
9.33%.
India possesses a good number of recognised breeds of cattle, which represent less than 15% of
the total cattle population. These are classified into milch breeds, draft and dual purpose breeds
(Table 2). Our milch breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi and Tharparkar were popular
even in other countries but their major drawbacks were productive and reproductive
inefficiencies. The bullocks of these breeds were very heavy and slow. There are many draft
breeds, but the cows of these breeds are low milk yielders, not adequate even to feed their
calves. Except for 10 - 15% of cows of good milch breeds, the rest of the cattle yield about 200
- 350 kg milk per lactation. Hence, even these elite breeds are being neglected by farmers.
There has been no scope for selection by culling due to sentimental and legal restrictions on
cow slaughter. Generally, these animals have been surviving on crop residues and free grazing
on village forests and community pastures, while only the working bullocks and high milking
cows were temporarily fed with supplementary concentrate feed.
maintained by both rich and poor farmers, have been receiving vaccinations and veterinary
services, free of cost, from the Government. Thus, farmers had an incentive to expand their
herd size without any financial burden, while posing a serious threat to the environment and
eco-system. To improve this status, it is necessary to adopt a scientific approach to formulate
the cattle management policy, covering the conservation of native breeds, improvement of nondescript cattle, health care services and management of community pastures and grazing.
Sheep and goat husbandry, piggery and fishery also have good potential to generate gainful
employment in selected areas, provided, the farmers engaged in these activities are supported
for backward and forward integration.
Names
Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar
Dual-purpose Breeds :
i. Average productivity breeds : Average
milk production between 1000-1500
kg/lactation
ii. Low productivity breeds: Average milk
production less than 1000 kg/lactation
Draught-Purpose Breeds: Average milk
production less than 500 kg/lactation
Haryana, Kankrej,
Ongole and Dangi
Rathi,
Minari,
5938
7038
3508
4451
It can be observed from Table 4 that the average milk yield of indigenous breeds of cattle has
been around 1.98 litres as compared to crossbreds (6.75 lit) and buffaloes (4.50 lit). The
above yield of indigenous cattle does not include the yield of draft breeds and nondescript
cows which are hardly milked due to low yields. However, they compete for fodder and feed,
resulting in huge shortage of feed resources. The future challenge is to cope up with the
growing demand for milk without increasing the livestock population, amidst the shortage of
fodder and feed resources.
Table 4: Expected Growth of Livestock Population and Milk Yield
Year
Type of
Animals
Population
(mill.)
2006-07
Production
(mill. tons)
Indigenous
Crossbred
Buffalo
Goat
28.158
2.580
32.864
--
20.263
18.682
53.986
4.073
Wet
Average
(kg/day)
Population
(mill.)
2021-22
Production
(mill. tons)
1.98
6.75
4.50
--
31.264
12.347
40.061
--
26.248
44.703
97.789
6.512
Wet
Average
(kg/day)
2.28
7.98
5.94
--
from the present quantity of 110 million tons to 175 million tons by 2022, dairy farmers are
assured of remunerative price for their produce.
Problems of the Poor Dairy Farmers
For involvement of poor dairy farmers in successful dairy husbandry programme, it is
necessary to address their problems, which are presented below:
quality feed at a competitive price. While there is a severe shortage of animal feeds, farmers
in fodder surplus areas are even burning crop residues or selling for alternate uses at
substantially lower prices. In the absence of organised supply, the local traders take undue
advantage by supplying inferior quality feed at high cost. In such a situation, dairy farming
can become uneconomical in spite of superior technical inputs. Hence, the above problems
need to be addressed, for transforming dairy husbandry into an important source of livelihood
for small farmers.
Strategy for Development of Cattle and Buffaloes for Dairy Husbandry
Considering the requirements of small dairy farmers, the following activities need to be
initiated to boost livestock production.
1. Genetic Improvement
1.1. Production of Superior Quality Bulls
For genetic improvement, the first step is to produce superior quality bull mothers
and bull calves.
Farmers maintaining elite herds of cattle and buffalo can also be involved in bull
calf production through planned breeding and buy-back guarantee.
Semen freezing laboratories should be certified for quality and disease free status;
Minimum genetic and health standards should be prescribed for bulls to be used
for semen collection.
Timely supply of inputs such as liquid nitrogen, frozen semen, vaccines, first
aid kit, feed concentrates, mineral mixture and forage seeds to the paravets for
onward supply to dairy farmers, through local Dairy Federation or NGO
engaged in livestock husbandry.
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Efficient Management of Crop Residues: Promote new food crop varieties having
higher grain yield with stalks of superior fodder quality.
varieties, produce and supply good quality seeds, promote use of soil amendments,
biofertilisers and forage harvesting equipment.
Complete Feed Rations: To overcome nutritional imbalance in the field and to
facilitate small farmers and landless to maintain their livestock under balanced
feeding, decentralised complete feed production units can be established.
Fodder Banks: Establishment of fodder banks in fodder scarcity regions through
Dairy Federations and Peoples Organisations can help small farmers to feed their
livestock during scarcity. In paddy and wheat growing areas where the straw is
wasted, facilities for compacting straw can be installed and arrangements can be
made to collect and pack them. Fodder banks can play a critical role in timely
supply of feed to livestock owners during the years of drought. The fodder banks
can also take up the production of complete feed for local distribution.
Introduction of by-pass Protein Feed: Techniques have been developed to avoid
wastage of nutrients by feeding by-pass protein and fat. Support should be provided
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These nodal agencies can also take up the production of critical inputs such as
frozen semen, cattle feed, forage seeds, etc. required by the farmers.
Presently, small farmers are not able to get rid of unproductive or sick animals
suffering from contagious diseases.
Therefore, suitable
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Mini dairies should be established in small towns where large dairies are not
viable. This will ensure transparency and efficiency.
Milk processing units should assume a prominent role in Dairy Value Chain
management by promoting breeding services, input supply and health care
provision, apart from collection of milk. The farmers should be trained in clean
milk production.
promotion of fodder cultivation, minor veterinary care such as deworming and vaccination
and mobilisation of farmers to develop their organisations to collect milk and supply to the
local dairies.
This programme turned out to be successful as farmers with low yielding nondescript
animals, were able to produce high yielding cows and buffaloes without any capital
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investment. With the increasing demand for milk and higher price realisation, farmers
maintaining 3 cows were able to earn Rs. 40,000 - 45,000 per year and come out of
poverty. Such high yielding cows and buffaloes produced at the doorsteps of the farmers,
today, fetch over Rs.40,000 to Rs.60,000 and truly serve as security to tide over financial
crisis. There is no other programme wherein the poor have an opportunity to build such high
value assets without any risk or capital investment. Presently, the milk produced by the
farmers participating in BAIF programme, contributes to over Rs. 4000 crores to the national
GDP every year.
BAIF has also initiated an eco-friendly Goat Development Programme wherein 6 - 8 goat
keeping women form a group to maintain a superior quality breeding buck to ensure genetic
improvement, while a trained local paravet mentors 6 8 such groups and provides critical
services such as deworming, vaccination, castration, guidance on fodder production and
feeding, periodic monitoring of growth and linkages with the market. As a result of these
interventions, the goat keepers are now able to enhance their income by 250 - 300%, due to
prolific kidding, high weight of kids at birth and at various stages of growth, low mortality
and better price realisation. Rigorous culling to restrict the herd size depending on fodder
availability and promotion of stall feeding to avoid biotic pressure on the eco-system, are
helpful to keep this programme eco-friendly. The impact of this programme on livelihood
and attitude of the goat keepers can be observed in 18 24 months. BAIF is presently
operating this programme in the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, West Bengal,
Orissa and Tripura with good success.
Reduction in Green House Gas Emission
Livestock has an adverse impact on environment. Firstly, livestock demands huge quantities
of fodder and feed. As there is a severe shortage of cultivated fodder and feed resources,
farmers let their livestock for free grazing on community lands and forests. Such stray
livestock not only denude the vegetation but also accelerate soil erosion.
Secondly,
ruminants produce methane and carbon dioxide during digestion. The dung releases methane
and nitrous oxide during anaerobic decomposition. It is estimated that livestock contributes
18% of the carbon dioxide equivalent green house gases in the atmosphere, which is a serious
concern. However, livestock being a major source of livelihood and food security for small
and marginal farmers in most of the developing countries, it is necessary to find solutions to
reduce their ill-effects on global warming and ensure a sustainable future for poor farmers.
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Emission of Methane
The global methane production in 1988 was in the range of 400 - 600 million tons per annum
of which livestock contributed about 28%, amounting to 80 million tons/annum. When the
feed reaches the rumen, it is converted into short chain fatty acids, microbial biomass and
fermentative gases, mainly carbon dioxide and methane, through microbial degradation,
known as enteric fermentation. The proportion of these components produced in rumen
varies to a great extent, with the type of feed and microbes (Blummel, et al 2001). The
variation in digested outputs occurs due to the type of feed, level of intake, retention time in
rumen and type of microbes present. On an average, each adult cow emits about 15 - 20 kg
methane in a year.
With about 100 million livestock, USA emits 5.5 million tons of
methane/year. India has 485 million livestock and these are likely to release proportionately
higher quantity of methane due to consumption of inferior quality fibrous fodder.
Scope for Reducing Methane Production
Depending on different species of microbes, nutrients and other chemical substances present
in the feed, the degree of fermentation will vary and the volume of gases released, will also
change. Thus, there is scope for reducing the production of gases by proper manipulation of
these factors.
Balanced Feeding: Efficiency of microbe has a significant impact on production of various
products, particularly gases. While the short chain fatty acids provide 70 - 85% of energy
requirement, microbial biomass provide 70 - 100% amino acid requirements of ruminants.
With proper feed selection, supplementation and balancing of various ingredients, it is
possible to maximise the conversion of feed into microbial biomass and short chain amino
acids, while reducing green house gases. With high protein diet, formation of gases can be
reduced significantly, while high fibre content in diet can increase the production of gases.
These gases are released in the atmosphere through digestive and respiratory systems.
Improving Feed Quality: A majority of the livestock in India is low productive. They are
under-nourished and survive on open grazing or on poor quality, high fibre roughages. These
animals release more methane than high yielding animals, who consume better quality feed.
To reduce the ill-effects of poor quality feed, breaking of lignin in roughages before feeding
to livestock through various methods should be explored. Steam treatment of sugarcane
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bagasse and paddy straw and urea - molasses treatment of paddy straw are some good
examples. Conversion of high fibre grasses into silage may be easy and beneficial. Even
simple chopping of fodder before feeding livestock, can reduce methane production by 8 10%.
Good Health Conditions: Animals suffering from diseases also release higher volume of
methane compared to healthy animals. As most of the farmers are unaware of the threat
posed by their livestock to the environment, no efforts are being made either to reduce the
herd size or to control methane emission. These animals further demand fodder, feed and
water, thereby creating pressure on the natural resources which are already scarce (Hegde,
2010).
Efficiency of Microbes: It is presumed that there are a wide range of microbes involved in
degeneration of biomass. The efficiency of different species and strains is likely to vary
widely. Thus, there is scope to identify various species and their strains of micro-organisms
present in rumen which are efficient convertors of feed into amino acids and microbial
biomass. Such microbes found even outside the rumen, can be introduced into the rumen to
improve digestion in ruminants.
Methane absorbing Microbes: There are also microbes which have the capacity to absorb
methane and convert it into other products.
feeding on methane, can also be incorporated in the rumen flora for reducing the emission of
methane while improving the productivity and profitability of livestock husbandry.
Methane Traps: Most of the low productive livestock generally go out for grazing during
the day and return to the shed in the evening. They release significant volume of methane
and carbon dioxide during the night when housed in a cattle shed. Trapping these gases
inside the barn by fixing efficient filters, may be possible by using modern technologies.
Dung Management:
Animal dung and urine also release methane and nitrous oxide.
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Use of dung for production of biogas is the best option to convert this threat into an
opportunity. The old models of biogas plants were inconvenient to manage in congested
residential areas. New compact models have now been developed which are ready for wider
replication.
Control of Livestock Population: The aim should be to reduce livestock by improving the
productivity of the animals, so that with small number of livestock, farmers can earn higher
income. This can happen by producing genetically superior quality animals and maintaining
them well with balanced feeding.
References
1. Anon. 1996. National Livestock Policy Perspectives: Report of Steering Group.
Planning Commission, Government of India.
2. Anon. 2005. Annual Report 2004-2005. Department of Animal Husbandry and
Dairying, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. New Delhi.
3. Government of India, 2011. Faster, Sustainable and More Inclusive Growth An
Approach to the XII Five Year Plan, Planning Commission, New Delhi.
4. Anon. 1997. Dairy India Yearbook VI. New Delhi.
5. Blummel, M., Krishna, N. and Orskov, E.R. 2001. Supplementation strategies for
optimizing ruminal carbon and nitrogen utlisation: Concepts and approaches.
Proceedings of the 10th Animal Nutrition Conference: Karnal, India. Review Papers,
November 9-11: 10-23.
6. Hegde, N.G. 2010.
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